Investing in Waukegan
THE WORK BEHIND A BETTER WAUKEGAN
Smoother streets, safer sidewalks, cleaner water, and a stronger lakefront. The city is making real, lasting investments in the infrastructure you use every day. Here's what's happening, where, and why.
Why Now
THE FUNDAMENTALS COME FIRST.
A great city runs on the things people rarely see: the roads under your tires, the water in your tap, the sidewalks your kids take to school. Waukegan is investing in all of it at once, with a coordinated plan to modernize aging infrastructure, protect public health, and make daily life work better across every neighborhood. The work is intentional, it's city-led, and it's already moving.
Genesee Street lane closures begin June 1. Plan your route.
The Payoff
WORK TODAY, A STRONGER CITY TOMORROW
Infrastructure work isn't always convenient. Lanes close, crews show up, and routines get interrupted. But every closed lane and replaced pipe is an investment in a Waukegan that's safer, healthier, and easier to live in for years to come. We're doing this work in the open, on a plan, and with your daily life in mind.
Completed Projects
EXPLORE THE WORK
Washington Street Resurfacing
A full resurfacing of Washington Street from Green Bay Road to Park Avenue, rebuilding one of the city's busiest arteries to handle the daily traffic that connects neighborhoods and supports local business.
Restored a critical east-west corridor, giving thousands of daily drivers a smoother, safer commute and a road built to last for years to come.
Lakefront Water Main Replacement
Replacement of aging water mains along the lakefront corridor, swapping out decades-old pipe for modern, durable infrastructure that protects service reliability.
Reduced the risk of main breaks and service disruptions for hundreds of nearby households, securing dependable water delivery to the neighborhoods that need it.
Downtown Streetlight Modernization
An upgrade of downtown streetlights to energy-efficient LED fixtures, improving visibility along Genesee Street and the surrounding business district.
Brighter, safer streets for evening foot traffic and ArtWauk crowds, while cutting energy costs and lowering the city's long-term maintenance burden.